Fastener



Feb. 2, 1932, H, A, BORRESEN 1,843,596

FASTENER Filed May 5, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 2, 1932. A H A BORRESEN1,843,596

.FASTENER Filed May 3. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 2, 1932. H, A,BORRESEN 1,843,596

FASTENER Filed May 5, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 2, 1932UNITEMSTATES. PATENT oFFIcE HELGE A. BORRESEN, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,ASSIGNOR To UNITED-,CARR FASTENER 1 CORBORATION, or `CAIVIBRIIDGE,MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MASSA- CI'IUSETTS rAsTnNnn' Applicationmed May 3,

My invention relates to latch fasteners and has for its object theprovision of animprovedv and simplified device of this char# acter. Myinvention contemplates the provision of a structurev where, in itspreferred form, two elements are necessary for its completeconstruction, these being the housing and the interior moving element.The housing is preferably made in two parts.

YMy invention further concerns itself with the provision of novel meanscooperating with the spring fastener whereby to hold two elementstogether which are to be secured in position by the said fasteningmechanism.

My invention further concerns itself with mechanism whereby a pluralityof loose elements may be mounted in association with aretainingmechanism through the agency of my improvedv` spring fasteningmeans. It is also a prime'object of my invention, so far as itspreferred form is concerned, that the movable spring fastening lelementis integral with the supporting structure which Y carries it, theConstruction being such that ample and large spring action is obtained,which spring action is supplied by the mate'- rial from which thiselement is made In this connection, reference is made to my copendingapplication, Serial No. 15,848, filed March 6, 1925 and my copendingapplication Serial No. 607,345-, filed December 16, 1922, my presentinvention being an improvement over the structures disclosed in saidcopending applications.

Further objects and advantages of my in- Lventionwill appear from aspecific'description of severalmodifications thereof which l will nowmake in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating suchmodifications in whichy Fig. 1l is a top view of one'of my improvedfasteners as mounted in place;

Fig. 2 isa bottom view thereof, the cooperating attaching element j notbeing shown; i 'Y Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 ywiththe additionof means for holding an intermediately mounted grommetstructure shownin full lines and with the addition shown in dotted linesof my improved fas- 1926.- serial No. 106,533.'

tener adapted' to support the third ply of Figs. 6 and 7 shows thel twoelements, rei spectively',` which go up to make the grommet structureillustrated in Fig.

Fig; v8? isa bottom view of the grommet shown in: connection with Fig.3; V

Fig. 9 is a bottom view of a modified form of grommet;

Fig. 10 is a sectionaly View thereof `on line 10h-10 of Fig. 9; f

Fig. l1 is a top View of a modified form of my improved fastener;

Fig. 12is a bottom View thereof;

Fig. 13 is a sectionalview on line 13--18 of Fig. 11, the fastener,however, being shown in connection with a flush type retainer;

Fig; 14 isa View similar to that offFig. 18 in so'` far as the flushtype retainer is concerned with` the `exception that the flush type-retaineris notshownrin section; v Fig'. 15 is atop View of thestructure illustrated in Fig. 14; l* Fig. 16 is a sectional view on line16-#16 of Fil-gmt;

` Fig.117 is la view similarjto Fig; 4` of the modified` form of latch'mechanism shown in Fig. 18is aside viewl of the retainer 'shown in Fig.14 looking atrighty Vangles to the illustration of Fig. 14; l V

Fig, 19 is a bottom view of said retainer disassembled 20' is asectional view of a modified form of fastening device; l 'y y Figf. 21.is a top viewY of a retaining mechanismapplicable thereto; y

Fig.. 22y is-avbottom View of the fastener as shownfin Fig.20;y y f v pFig. 23 is a sectional view'on line 23-2'3 of-Fig-20;v f o f Fig..24' isa ldetailed view ofthe composite latch,V and support therefor;

Afastener 40a.

Fig. 25 is a sectional view on line 25 of Fig. 24;

Fig. 26 is an end view of the structure shown in Fig. 20;

Fig. 27 is a detailed view of the element cooperating with the elementshown inD Fig. 24; i Fig. 28 is a front view of two of my improvedfasteners as shown holding together two flexible extremities ofmaterial; and

' Fig. 29 is a top view thereof.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 23 and 4, Ishow my improvedfastener 40 as attached to a flexible piece of material 41, thisfastener being adapted for attachment to the stud retainer 42 suitablymounted in place upon a baserpiece 43. The stud retainer is shown'inthis instance as being provided with screwthreads 44 and a cut awayportion 45 by virtue of which it seats itself in the metal base strip 43after a hole has been drilled therethrough. 'Ihese particular featuresof the mounting of the said stud retainer form no part of my presentinvention. rIhe stud retainer has a head 46 which surmounts a restrictedportion or neck 47. My improved fastener has means, presently to bedescribed, which cooperate with this head and neck portion whereby theparts 41 and 43 are held together when the parts 40 and 42 are placed incooperating position or condition.

In the illustration shown'in these figures, I have contemplated thepossibility of a fourply structure shown in Fig. 3 for which reason Ihave surmounted my improved fastener 40 with'a stud 48, which stud ispermanently fastened to the top portion of the fastener 40 and isVprovided with a cylindrical section 49 over which a groinmet 50 may beplaced, which grommet retains the third element 51 of the four-plystructure in place. rIhe stud 48 then has a head -52 surmounting a re.-stricted or neck portion 53 which is adapted to cooperate with a similarfastener 40a shown 4in dotted lines, but which is lmade without the stud48, this fastener 40a being secured to the fourth element 54 'of thefour-ply structure and holding the same in place upon the stud 48. Itwill thus be seen that a stud fastener 42 is provided upon the basepiece 43 by means of which my improved fastener 40 and a second element41may be held in place whereupon bymeans ofthe grommet 50, a thirdelement 51 may be held in place upon the stud48 and whereby a fourthelement 54 may be held in place upon the stud 48 by the I have'thusdescribedin generalthe use to which my improved device may be lput toindicate its flexibility `and Iv will now describe more in detail thestructure of the fastener. 7 v

AThis fastener comprises a casing 55,' which is of the generaloutlineshown in Figs. 1 and 2, this shell having three protrudingfingers 56. rIhis shell cooperates with a cap 57, the two parts 55 and57 forming a complete closure, the shell 55 being mounted on top of theelement 41 which it is to retain in place and the cap 57 being mountedbeneath. The fingers'56 which project through the material of theelement 41 are then bent over into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3and occupy recesses 58l in the cap 57.

The onlyother element needed in this particular embodiment of thisinvention to provide a complete spring or catch fastener,

is'the element 59 shown more in detail in Fig.,4. e This elementconsists of a base plate or support 60 having three openings 6l throughwhich the fingers 56 project. This element 60 further has two slotspunched therethrough, respectively the slot 62 and the slot 63. rIheseslots are merely shear slots and aremade without punching away any of1the material. In Fig. 4 it wouldseem that certain material has beenpunched away from these slots, although they are in reality inerelysheared. The reason that this vis shown in this manner is to facilitateunderstanding of the device and to illustrate more clearly Vthestructure.

By virtue of these two slots 62 and 63, there isprovided a spring tongue64 which, as will be seen, extends throughout more than 180 about theperiphery of the central latch tongue 65, presently to be explained.This latchvtongue 65 is punched downwardly out of the body of thematerial, a certain portion of the material being entirely punched awayto leave the opening 66. The latch tongue 65 is carried upon the centralplate 67, which central plate extends outwardly in the form of a fingerpiece 68 which is `an extension of the arm 69. The material of which theelement 59 is made is spring-like in nature and serves as a spring whenthinned to the dimensions of the tongue 64. y

N ow after lthe shear slots 62Yand 63 have .been made in the material,the tongue 65 is bent downwardly and the arm 69 andV finger, piece 68are also bent downwardly (the vlingers 68 being` then again bent toextend upwardly) but the plate 67 is pushed upwardly so that it occupiesthe position shown in VF ig. 3 with the tongue 64 lying intermediatebetween the plate 67 and the base plate 60. It will thus be seen thatthe latch tongue 65 being carried by the plate 57 will be moved to theleft (Fig. 3) whenever the finger piece 65 is moved toward the left. Inthis inanner, this' latch tongue65 cooperates with the head 46 ofthe-stud retainer 42. In assembling, the plate 60 lies on top of thematerial v41 and is held inposition as stated by the fingers 56 passingthrough the openings 61. A. very simple latch fastener is thus providedconsisting'practically of two elements, the latchelement and thehousing. In actual practice, these two elements are made in three parts,thatis, vthe housing is made in two parts consisting` of the shell andcap as heretofore explained.. The latch fastener itself lution,permitting a. substantially straightv line movementof the latch.

The capy 57 is provided with an upwardly extending,- lip-70 which helpsto guide the structure into place when the same is being mounted'on theretainer and which also prevents rearward movement of the entirefastener whenever the linger piece 68 is pushed to the left (Fig. l havealready described t iat the housing carries a second stud 48 adapted toreceive the third ply 51 of material to be superposed and that thissaine stud 48 may also retain a fourth element 54, which element 54 isshownas being provided with my improved fastener 40a, this fastener 40anot having a. stud similar to the stud 48, but showing probably thelmost universal way in which my fastener willbe constructed.

- lnl orner to secure theelementV 51 in position, it is provided with agrommet consisting of two parts, respectively the eyelet portion 7l andthe cap portion 7 2, the cap portion 72 having fingers 78 to retain thetwo parts together. This grommet cooperates with the cylindrical portion49 of the stud 48 and is finally definitely held in its positionwhen thefastener 40a is mounts -n position. ln

ve shown a. modi- Figs. 5, 6, 7. 9, and 10, l ha 'lied form `ofgroniniet device, Figs. 5, o and 7 show. -g a Qrominet structure having'two cooperating elements, respectively the elements74 and 75, thesehei-.nhg shown as mounted in place upon a stud 'fastener76in Fig. 5. Theelement 7 4has two transverse 77 and 7 8- punched from the body of thematerial which are spring-like in nature and which are adaptedto-encircle the ridge l79 provided upon the stud fastener 76,. thusmoresecure ly to hold the rommet in. position. In Figs. 9 and 10, l haveshown a modilication of these structures in that instead'of using oneclement 74 as shown in lllig. 6, l use two such elements, the same beingheld together by pronos 80 which are adapted to enter slots 81 iirovidedin thecompanion elem-ents. These prongs-are shown in Figures V6"), 9,and V10. 6 shows one single member 74 with prongs 80 notyet bent toapply to fastening themember 74. ln Figs. 9 and 1() the way which theprongs are bent is clearly shown.

In Figs. 11, 12, and 18 l show a modified form of structure capable ofuse in connection with a flush i tri-incr. This Lush retainer 82`ismounted upon a base plate 88 andiny improved fastener 84, which issimilar in form to that shown in Fie; 8, is however,

, disengagement between i the parts.

yjects, in which opening); it is slidable.

.slightly different than the cap structure 57 .of Big. 8.

The cap 57a has ya downwardly extending pocket 86 within whichV the'catch is locafd.V An opening, 87 "is `provided through which the nosepiece 88 of thel catch protrudes'in-order to come into cooperativerelation with the iiushtype retainer.. The catch 85 in the form shown'in Fig. 18, is riv-y eted to the base plate 6766. From thisit will beyseen that my improved .structure lends itself not only. for 'use inconnection with ay stud type of fastener, but also with the flush typ@vThe details of the interior mechanism of Figs. 11., 12, and 18 is moreclearly shown in Fig-17. The lushtype of retainer is shown more clearlyin Figs. 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, and 19, and is preferably made of one pieceof material consisting` of the rim 89 having the in-y wardly projectingannular dished retaining element 90 and havii'igg` two downwardly ex#tending prongs 91 and 92. This flush typeof fastener isv usuallyinserted through a metal base plate such as the base plate 88,y whichmetall baseplate is sometimesbacked up with ay wooden backing 98. `Whenonly'the metal plate is used, then it is merelynecessary to cut out ahole in order to insert my improved retainer. lt is thenv heldpermanently and will not come loose.

l obtain this result by having the prongs 91 and 92 conform to acircular outline, havingr a larger diameter than the diameter of thehole 93 through which they project. This Y is clearly seen from aninspection of Fig. 16

so Y

ris f Tn Fig. 20 I have shown my improved L structure as applied to 'afastener in which the finger piece 68 shown in Figs. 12 and 18 does notproject, but in which 'the arrangement is suchthat thefcasing or shell'vof the fastener is itself, moved in order to secure Inf Fig. 29.7. isshown a base plate 95 which hais an opening 96 through which the catch97 pro- This base plate 95 cooperates Vwith a plate 98 which is 'shownmore clearly in Fig. 23' and which plate is formed to provide the tongue64 heretoforedescribed, and which tongue is again associated with theplate portion 675 carrying the catch 97. An operating finger 99 isprovided which, however, in this instance, is not manipulated directlyby hand, but is manipulated by a movable shell portion 100. rlfhe plate98 is held in close juxtaposition to the base plate 95 `by means of theiin gers 101. lt will thus be seen that the plate 93 and the base plate95 form a rigid structure carrying the movable catch 97 which may bemoved whenever the operating finger 99 is moved.

Now, in order to move this iinger, l utilize the shell structure 100 andthis shell structure is mounted in place by having two protrudinglingers 102 and 102 which cooperate with a struck up headed guide 103extending upwardly from the plate 93. Two other headed guides 104 and104 are struck up from the plate 98 and engage inwardly7 projectingslides 10.5 provided upon the shell portion 100. When the parts arefirst mounted together, the operating finger 99 is pushed to the left asfar as it will go, whereupon the cap 100 isinserted into place so thatits elements 102 and 105 may be seated directly to the elements 103 and104 whereupon a return of these p arts toward the right will cause theparts 102 and 105 to ride into place under the headed elements 103 and104 to thus complete the structure as shown in Fig. 20. The partsthereafter need never again be moved so far to the left and in practiceare not, because the movement of the shell portion 100 to the left todisengage the parts is merely a small fraction of the total movementrequired to disengaged the parts 102 and 103. A lip 106 is struckdownwardly from the plate 95, the purpose of whichwill'be presently eX-plained. l

My improved fastener vis provided with any suitable retaining mechanismsuch as the link 107 to hold the material 103 which it is desired tofasten into position; The fastener cooperates with the retainer 109, inthis case being shown as provided with a similar linlr 110 to obtain thevery extremity of the material 111 which-it is desired to hold inposition. This retainer 109 has three openings,

112 which are adapted to be engaged by the catch 97 Vso that the twoparts may be adjusted to requirements. The lip 106 theretofore referredto, cooperates with one edge of these holes 112 to prevent the entirefastenermoving to the left when the shell 100 is moved to the left todisengage vthe catch 97 from its cooperating inner surface of the hole102.

ln Figs. 28 and 29 l have shown my improved fasteners as being appliedto an overshoe, for instance, to illustrate the manner iu which myimproved fastener may be used.

Fig. 27 illustrates a side view of the structure shown in Fig. 20.

An important supporting iange 113 shown in llig. 3 is provided upon theback plate 57 against which the latch may impinge whenever there is apull exerted against said latch by the stud retainer 42.

li`iom` what has been thus described, the nature of my invention will bereadily clear to those skilled in the art and it will also be clear thatmany modificationsv may be made without departing from the spiritthereof and what l therefore claim as new and Vdesire to claim byLetters Patent is:

1. ln a fastener of the character described the combination with ahousing, of a latch structure cri-operating therewith, said structurecomprising a latch carrying element, a support, and a springconnectingsaid element and support, said element, support,`and spring beingintegral and made of a single piece of material, said support beingfixed relative to said housing.

2. ln a fastener' of the character described the combination with ahousing, of a latch structure co-operating therewith, said structurecomprising a latch carrying element, a latch, a support, and a springconnecting said element and support, said element, latch, support, andspring being integral and made of a single piece of material.

3. ln a fastener of the character described the combination with ahousing, of a latch structure co-operating therewith, said structurecomprising a latch carrying element, a dependinglatch, a support, and aspring connecting said element and support, said element, dependinglatch, support, and springbeing integral and made of a single piece ofmaterial.

4. ln a fastener of the character described the combination with ahousing, of a latch structure co-operating therewith, said structurecomprising a latch carrying element, a support, and a spring connectingsaid element and support, said element, support, and spring beingintegral and made of a single piece of material, said element andsupport by virtue of the spring connection between them being relativelymovable.

5. ln a fastener of the character described the combination with ahousing, of a latch structure co-operating therewith, said structurecomprising a latch carrying element, a support, and a circular' springcomiecting said element and support, said element, support, and springbeing integral and made of asingle piece of material, said support beingrigidly secured to said housing.

6. ln a fastener of the character described the combination with ahousing, of a latch structure co-operating therewith, said structurecomprisinga latch carrying element, a lat-ch, a support, and a circularspring connecting said element and support, said element, latch,support, and spring .being integral' and made of a single' piece ofmaterial, said support being rigidly secured to said housing.

7. In a fastener of the character -described the combination with ahousing, of a latch structure co-operating therewith, said structurecompri-sing a latch carrying element, a support forming base plate forsaid housing, and a spring of considerable length connecting saidelement and support, said element,support, and spring being integral andmade of a single piecev of material. y

8. In a fastener of the character described the combination with ahousing, of a latch structure co-operating therewith, said structurecomprising a latch carrying element, a support, and a spring connectingsaid element and support, said element, support, and spring beingintegral and made of a single piece of material, said element andsupport by virtue of the spring connection between them being relativelymovable, and means provided upon' said housing and support to preventmovement of said support when said element is moved relatively to saidsupport.

9. In a fastener of the character described the combinationwith ahousing, of a latch structure co-operating therewith, said structurecomprising a latch carrying element, a support, and a spring connecting'said element and support, said element, support, and

lspring' being integral and made of a vsingle piece of material, saidelement, support, and spring lying in different planes.

' 10. In a fastener of the character described the combination with ahousing, of a latch structure co-operating therewith, said structurecomprising a latch carrying element, a depending latch, a support, and aspring connecting saidelement and support, said element, dependinglatch, support, and spring being integral and made of a single piece ofmaterial, said element, support, and spring lying in different planes.

11. Ina fastener of the character described the combination with ahousing, of a latch structure co-operating therewith, said structurecomprising a latch Vcarrying element, a

support, and a spring connecting said element and support, said element,support, and spring being integral and made of a single piece ofmaterial, said element and support by virtue of the spring connectionbetween them being relatively movable, said element, support, and springlying in different planes.

12. In a fastener of the character described the combination with ahousing, of alatch structure co-operating therewith, said structurecomprising a latch carrying element, a support, and a circular springconnecting said element and support, said element, support, and springbeing integral and made of a. single piece of material, said element,support, and spring lying kin different-planes.

13. Ina fastener of the character described the combination with ahousing, of a latch structure co-operating therewith, said structurecomprising a latch carrying element, a linger piece therefor, astationary support, and a spring connecting said `element and support,.said element, linger piece, support, and spring being integral and madeof a single piece of material. V'14. In afastener of the characterdescribed the combination with a housing, of a latch Vstructureco-operating therewith, said structure comprising a latch carryingelement, a'iinger piece therefor, a latch, a support fixedly mounted insaid housing, and a spring connecting said element and support, said.element, linger piece, latch, support, and spring being integral andvmade of a single piece of` material.

l15.v In a fastener of the character described the combination with ahousing, of a latch structure co-operating therewith, said struc- A.turecomprising la latch carrying element, a

finger piece therefor, adepending latch, a support, and a springconnecting said element and support, said element, finger piece,depending latch, support, and `spring vbeing integral Vand made of asingle piece of material.

1G. In a fastenerof the character described the combination with ahousing,'of a lat-ch structure co-operating therewith, said structurecomprising a latch carrying element, a finger piece therefor, a supportliXedly mounted in said housing, and a spring connecting said elementand support-said element, finger piece, support, and spring. beingintegral and made of a single piece of material, said element andsupport by virtue of the spring connection between them being relativelymovable.

17. In a fastener of the character described the combination with ahousing, of a latch structure co-operating therewith, said structurecomprising a latch carrying element, a linger piece therefor, a support,and a circular spring connecting said element and support, said element,linger piece, support, and spring being integral and made of a singlepiece of material, said support being interloclred with said housing.

18. In a y.fastener of the character de-V through said housing.

20. A separable fastener comprising, in combination, a socket presentinga stud-receiving aperture, a cooperating stud presentj ing a shankportion for passage through said aperture, a locking portion projectingthrough a slot at one side of said shank portion for locking the stud tothe socket, attaching means tor securing the stud to a flexible support,and means cooperating with the locking portion extending substantiallyparallel to the lexible support, whereby it may Abe associated With thelocking Jortion and operated by initial movement of the flexible supportrelative to said stud thereby to shi'lt said locking portion out otlocking engagement with the socket and separate the stud from thesocket. i

' 2l. A separable fastener comprising, in

Y combination, a socket having a stud-receiving aperture surrounded by aWall a shoulder back of said Wall and means for securing the socket to asupport, a cooperating stud secured to a flexible carrying medium andhaving a shank portion "for entrance into the aperture in said socket, alatch projecting through a slot at one side of said shank portion forengagement -behind said shoulder to lock the `stud and socket togetherand means extending substantially parallel to the flexible carryingmedium and cooperating With the latch whereby it may be operated byinitial movement of the tlexilole carrying medium relative to the studyto Withdraw said latch from engagement with said shoulder thereby topermit separation of the stud and socket.

22. A. separable iastener stud including a casing having a projectionfor engagement in a stud-receiving aperture o't a cooperating socket,means assembled with the casing and having a plate-like portion, an osetlocking portion spaced from the general plane out the plate-like portionand spaced from the casing for engagement in the stud-receiving apertureot a socket, a spring portion formed integral with said plate-likeportion and contained Within said casing and an operating finger portionforming part of theV means assembled With the casing, said operatingfinger extending laterally from the periphery ot sain casing to providemeans for operating said oiiset locking portion to disengage it from acooperating socket. v l

23. A three-side lock fastener comprising, in combination, a sockethaving a stud-receiving aperture, a. cooperating stud presenting anon-resilient portion for passage into said aperture, attaching meansfor securing said non-resilient portion to a lexible support, meansassembled With the stud and having a hook-like latch 'for locking thestud and socket against separation by an outward strain on the flexiblesupport at three sides, and a depending linger associated With saidmeans which presents the hook-like latch and extending substantiallyparallel With the flexible support thereby to be operable by an initialoutward pull on the exible support at the fourthside to release thehook-like latch and permit separation oic the stud from the socket.

Q4. A separable fastener member including a casing for attachment to acarrying medium, means assembled With the casing and having a plate-likeportion located entirely Within the casing, a locking portion extendingfrom said plate-like portion at substantially a right angle thereto andhaving a shoulder spaced 'from the generalplane of the plate-likeportion for engagement With a cooperating-snap fastener member to securethe snap l'fastening members together, a spring portion formed integralwith said plate-like portion and contained Within said casingV insubstantially the same .plane as the plate-like portion, and anoperating linger portion forming part of themeans assembled With thecasing, said operating finger portion extending laterally from theplate-like portion outside the periphery of the casing to provide meanstor operating .sa-id locking portion thereby to disengage it fromthecooperating fastener member, said plate-like portion and springportion being adapted to be located at the same side of the carryingmedium When the casing is attached.

ln Witness whereof, l hereunto subscribe lny name this 22d day ofApril', A. D. 1926.

HELGE A. BORRESEN.V

